Michigan native, singer-songwriter Mike Posner walks across America
(FOX 2) - Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter Mike Posner took time to FaceTime with FOX 2 in the middle of his walk across America.
"I think that's something the magnitude, the difficulty and the inevitable self-growth that will take place along this journey is what attracted me to it," he said
The Southfield native started April 15th with a dip in the Atlantic Ocean in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and is slowly making his way to Venice Beach, California.
Ninety miles in, he stopped to talk to us from Allentown, Pennsylvania about what motivated him to take this trek.
"My friend Avicii had to die, when he died, I realized I am going to die someday also and so I want to do the things I want to do in my life now," he said.
The singer known for his hits 'I Took a Pill in Ibiza' or 'Cooler Than Me' is referring to his friend and collaborator Avicci who died by suicide - a year before Posner lost his father to brain cancer.
"I think a lot about my father," he said. "He liked a to walk too so feel like I am honoring him as I walk."
Tuesday is day No. 9 for Posner, who walks in the morning and in the evening. A friend follows in an RV, where they sleep at night. But along the way Posner looks forward to meeting his fans who are following his journey on Instagram.
"People I meet on the walk, sometimes they walk with me a few hours first," he said. "Sometimes people invite me over to their house for dinner, to sleep there if they have an extra bed.
"I think they see it as a little bit of an escape from the normal life which is what it is for me too."
Although Posner likes to offer impromptu concerts along the way, he says his music isn't top of mind.
"I have been trying to enjoy where I am right now and not worry too much about the next adventure although my mind does go there at times," he said.
The whole journey is expected to take six to eight months. Posner expects to stop in metro Detroit - near where he grew up.
"I have some tentative plans but not really ready to announce it yet but I will soon on my Instagram," he said. "I've been trying to organize someplace to play and a place where people can walk with me."
In the meantime, he plans to take in every moment never knowing what he may face next. But at 32 he plans to find his way and hopes it inspires others to do the same.
"We grow up and we tend to go in a defensive mode and we tend to sort of build walls around what we want," he said. "It's not a very exciting way to live. It's kind of a wacky goal, I hope my walk reminds me and other people your life is now - enjoy it now."